What makes you think that by NOT answering the questions, you'll save yourself from the negative blogging? Its going to happen whether you like it or not. I personally don't know much about any of you, and it looks like I won't anytime soon.

From your "joint" letter above it seems that you want me to come to you and ask for answers. Guess what, you are running to be MY Sheriff. You want MY vote. You decided to try and convince me to vote for you. Seems to me that you should be doing all you can to give me information, not avoiding questions.

Uneducated (not educated about the candidates)voters are the WORST type. Unfortunately, there are many amongst us that can't attend a so called "Open Forum". Work and family commitments prevent them from attending so they depend on the media for information.

So Thomas Mindar, Barry Babb, Wayne Hannah, Dave Simmons...What are you afraid of?

Randall Johnson and Bruce Jordan are the end of an era. No matter what happened or what was said about them, Randall and Bruce let it run off their backs. They took it like men. When you are in law enforcement, you have people trying real hard to do something really physical and really bad to cops. Like Jeffrey Allen. These four Sheriff candidates do not fit the same mold and I have real doubt if they can take the heat. The ridiculous part is that all the negative blogging is coming from the other candidate's supporters. Looks like we are going to end up with a woosie for Sheriff. Give Bruce credit-- he had backbone.

the citizens competitor site? I didn't think so. That is because there aren't any. They specifically state that they welcome your comments and require that you ID yourself. I cannot speak to the identification part as I and an anonymous blogger myself. However, I keep my comments tasteful and free of baseless attacks and libelous spin. Maybe the Citizen should begin to follow their competitors lead or atleast start to seriously crack down on what is being written on this side. Just as their is no unlimited and unrestricted right to own and carry firearms there is also no unlimited and unrestricted right to free speach. Some of what is on this site goes far beyond ones right to freedom of speech and it needs to be corrected. Get it together Cal.

I am very disappointed in the candidates for sheriff and their decision to not participate in the forum the Citizen is having. In all probability I will not get to meet them and these articles help me make my decision on who to vote for. Their comment, “Besides, we are all busy campaigning for office and responding to baseless anonymous attacks would consume an enormous amount of time which we feel would be better spent on more constructive business." is the most lame, ill-conceived I have ever seen. Do they not realize that baseless attacks will be a daily thing for them in this job? We have all heard it said over and over that all prisoners say they are innocent. So who do most blame for being where they are, the officer who put them there like the Sheriff!

This job is tough with tough decisions. Many will hate them and few will love them for doing their job, some will even wish them harm! To see the candidates leery of mere "QUESTIONS", (that can be refused because of wrong information or baseless attacks), shows a definite lack of being able to handle most of the stuff that will be coming straight for THEM and makes one wonder what do they have to hide, it really makes me want to look for a write in candidate.

I am sorry but this job requires a substantial backbone and all the candidates seem to had theirs go a little soft. Anyone out there really interested in and qualified for becoming a write in candidate? If any of the candidates for other races decide to follow suit, I WON'T vote for those who opt out.

Unanimous vote for closed government. This reminds me of what happened to Fayette Finance Director Pulliam who tried to find out how many vehicles the Sheriff's department had. The response he got: "You, sir, have earned yourself a night in jail." And the drug money obtaind through forefeiture and efforts to get full disclosure? Maybe this pattern of behavior is repeating itself.

I am sorry that the public has taken our collective choice, regarding this type of forum, in the wrong way. I can't speak for the other candidates of course, but, we all came to the same conclusion. We would and will answer any questions that the public has on our positions. That wasn't the point.

What we didn't want was anonymous bloggers getting on here and making false accusations and suggestions that we couldn't defend ourselves from. We have been very open in the press and in the public and we all have contact information readily available to anyone that wants it. We have been to several forums and still have two left that are open to the public.

The fact that we all came together on this topic and agreed should let everyone know that we believe in this and feel that participating would only bring negative light to an otherwise fair and open election. Shortly after we went to the Citizen, we all sat down and had breakfast together. That alone should tell you a lot about the character of your candidates.

Again, I am not speaking for the other candidates. I feel that we are all individually running for the position and we are attacking the issues, and not each other. We have ideas on what we want to accomplish and what the public needs from their law enforcement officers. We are open to any suggestions and aren't trying to hide anything from anyone. We encourage you to learn more about us and feel free to contact any of us with any questions.

I would like to add that since this election started, I have learned more about the other candidates. I had already considered Barry Babb a friend and have nothing but respect for him as both a supervisor and a person. Since then, I have talked with both Wayne Hannah and Dave Simmons. I feel that both of these men have excellent leadership abilities and only have your best interests at heart.

Whatever the outcome of this election, I would be proud to work for any of the three and feel that the county will only benefit from your choice for the next Sheriff. Thomas Mindar

Cal only wants this forum to boost his numbers and to keep the most important race hot and dirty. This site feels like The Enquirer sometimes, nasty.

So, Cal, why don't you (The Citizen) sponsor an open public forum? That would be the classy thing to do, rather than post answers from questions asked by your negative anonymous bloggers who will spin, and spin and spin away on your newspaper.

My respect actually went up for Hannah, Mindar and Babb. Simmons is already a class act!

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Cal?

Obviously, the motley bunch of sheriff-wannabees.

Cal, you left out one important question for each candidate:

5. Is your daddy still alive? If so, is he ashamed of the coward that you turned out to be? Public service, particularly senior leadership positions like Sheriff, require you to be upfront and open with questions from the public. Cal is simply asking questions that a lot of us would like answers to. Hiding behind your collective badges is the coward's way out. With this kind of "leadership", should we expect your deputies to follow your example and show a similar lack of courage when the going gets tough in the field?

Is it too late to ask Randall Johnson to serve another term so that he can groom some real professionals to take his place?

I have long said that the Media would do its best to ruin this country if it is left as is. I for one and proud of all four candidates for refusing to enter into this type of debate. Nobody ever wins except the media.

OK, that tears it. I was leaning toward Minder since he was the only one with enough common sense to propose some changes but now I'll write in Mickey Mouse (or $age)if they give us that option.

I am NOT willing to vote for "more of the same". Law inforcement in Fayette County and indeed law enforcement in general must start making changes to cope with the decline of our society and the skyrocketing crime rate. While drug enforcement has made significant advances, many other areas have suffered. If it's not a violent crime or a crime again'st children, it better put money in the coffers or it just doesn't exist. It's been that way for many years now. Randall Johnson has simply been too busy mentoring Bruce Jordan to be the next sherrif to see that the bad guys don't care where the county line is any more. As one member of the Judiciary put it: "Randall Johnson has not been interested in being Sheriff for a number of years now".

These four candidates need to wake up and smell the roses. John Q. Public has had enough! I suggest that you gentlemen reconsider answering a few common sense questions for The Citizen.

_______________________________________________________

2. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.

Well, guess Sage was way ahead when the 'write in' campaign was announced! Guess that is the way it will go now!! Just imagine the expressions on faces when they see "SAGE FOR SHERIFF" on ballots!!!

now happy campaigning.

Way to go Sheriff's Candidates!!!! If I could I would vote for all of you.